7 Surprising Facts About USA Food Imports
The United States is the world’s largest importer of food, spending more than $150 billion on edible products every year. But how much do you know about where your food comes from and how it gets to your plate? Here are seven surprising facts about USA food imports that you may not have heard before.
1. The U.S. imports more than half of its fresh fruits and vegetables.
According to the USDA, the U.S. imported 56 percent of its fresh fruits and 32 percent of its fresh vegetables in 2021. The top sources of these imports were Mexico, Canada, Chile, Peru, and Costa Rica. Some of the most imported fruits and vegetables include bananas, avocados, grapes, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and lettuce.
2. The U.S. imports more than 90 percent of its seafood.
The U.S. is one of the largest consumers of seafood in the world, but it produces only about 10 percent of its own supply. The rest comes from foreign sources, mainly China, Canada, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. Some of the most imported seafood products include shrimp, salmon, tilapia, crab, tuna, and cod.
3. The U.S. imports more than 80 percent of its coffee and cocoa.
The U.S. is also one of the largest consumers of coffee and chocolate in the world, but it grows very little of these crops domestically. The main reason is that coffee and cocoa require tropical climates that are not found in the continental U.S. The top sources of these imports are Brazil, Colombia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Ethiopia for coffee, and Ivory Coast, Ghana, Ecuador, Nigeria, and Cameroon for cocoa.
4. The U.S. imports more than 40 percent of its cheese.
The U.S. is a major producer of cheese, but it also imports a large amount of this dairy product from other countries. The main reason is that different types of cheese have different regional specialties and preferences that are not easily replicated in the U.S. The top sources of cheese imports are Italy, France, Switzerland, Spain, and Ireland.
5. The U.S. imports more than 20 percent of its wine.
The U.S. is also a major producer of wine, but it also imports a significant share of this alcoholic beverage from other countries. The main reason is that different types of wine have different terroirs and styles that are not easily replicated in the U.S. The top sources of wine imports are Italy, France, Australia, Chile, and Spain.
6. The U.S. imports more than 10 percent of its beef.
The U.S. is the world’s largest producer and consumer of beef, but it also imports some beef from other countries. The main reason is that some cuts of beef are more popular or cheaper in foreign markets than in the domestic market. The top sources of beef imports are Canada, Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, and Nicaragua.
7. The U.S. imports more than 5 percent of its pork.
The U.S. is also the world’s largest producer and consumer of pork, but it also imports some pork from other countries. The main reason is that some types of pork products are more popular or cheaper in foreign markets than in the domestic market. The top sources of pork imports are Canada, Mexico, Denmark, Poland, and Germany.
U.S. Food Imports: Trends and Implications
The United States is the world’s largest importer of food and beverages, with a value of over $150 billion in 2021. This reflects the diverse and growing demand of U.S. consumers for variety, quality, and convenience in the foods they consume. In this blog post, we will examine some of the trends and implications of U.S. food imports, based on the latest statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and other sources.
Horticultural Products: The Largest and Fastest Growing Category
Horticultural products, including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, wine, spirits, essential oils, and nursery stock, accounted for 52 percent of U.S. agricultural imports in 2021, up from 46 percent in 2010. The value of horticultural imports grew by 22 percent in 2021 from 2020, reaching $79 billion. The main sources of horticultural imports were Mexico (25 percent), Canada (14 percent), and the European Union (12 percent).
Horticultural imports reflect the preferences of U.S. consumers for tropical products, spices, and imported gourmet products, as well as seasonal and climatic factors that affect domestic production. For example, the United States imported $11 billion worth of fresh fruits in 2021, mainly bananas, avocados, berries, and grapes. The United States also imported $9 billion worth of fresh vegetables in 2021, mainly tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and onions.
Processed Products: The Second Largest Category
Processed products, such as sugar and confectionery products, bakery products, snack foods, beverages, dairy products, meat products, and prepared foods, accounted for 31 percent of U.S. agricultural imports in 2021, up from 29 percent in 2010. The value of processed imports grew by 15 percent in 2021 from 2020, reaching $47 billion. The main sources of processed imports were Canada (19 percent), Mexico (16 percent), and the European Union (15 percent).
Processed imports reflect the demand of U.S. consumers for convenience and variety in the foods they consume. Some processed imports are also related to intra-industry trade, whereby agricultural-processing industries based in the United States carry out certain processing steps offshore and import products at different levels of processing from their subsidiaries in foreign markets.
Bulk Products: The Smallest but Most Volatile Category
Bulk products, such as grains, oilseeds, sugar, coffee, cocoa, rubber, and cotton, accounted for 17 percent of U.S. agricultural imports in 2021, down from 25 percent in 2010. The value of bulk imports grew by 13 percent in 2021 from 2020, reaching $26 billion. The main sources of bulk imports were Brazil (17 percent), Canada (14 percent), and Argentina (8 percent).
Bulk imports reflect the supply and demand conditions of global commodity markets, as well as the trade policies of major exporters and importers. Bulk imports are also subject to price fluctuations due to weather shocks, exchange rate movements, and other factors.
U.S. food imports play a key role in the U.S. economy and in the lives of everyday Americans. They provide consumers with a wide range of food choices at affordable prices. They also create opportunities and challenges for U.S. producers and processors who compete with foreign suppliers in domestic and international markets.
U.S. food imports are expected to continue to grow in the future as U.S. consumers become wealthier and more ethnically diverse. However, U.S. food imports also face uncertainties due to trade disputes, sanitary and phytosanitary issues, environmental concerns, and other factors that may affect trade flows.
References:
https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/Press-Release/2020pr/ft900_2012.pdf
http://www.worldstopexports.com/united-states-top-10-imports/
U.S. imports – statistics & Facts | Statista
https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/u-s-food-imports/
https://www.statista.com/topics/3840/us-imports/
https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/ag-and-food-statistics-charting-the-essentials/agricultural-trade/
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